Tiburon in Marin County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Fort McDowell’s General Store

By Barry Swackhamer, October 3, 2013

1. Fort McDowell’s General Store Marker

Inscription. The Post Exchange, or PX, was built in 1910 to be a “one stop shopping place” for soldiers at Fort McDowell. Soldiers purchased clothing toiletries, and other supplies here. The PX also offered a restaurant, soda fountain, barbershop, taproom (with beer on tap) and, during WW I, a bowling alley and gymnasium.

Location. 37° 51.748′ N, 122° 25.304′ W. Marker is in Tiburon, California, in Marin County. Marker can be reached from Perimeter Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Belvedere Tiburon CA 94920, United States of America.

HABS Statement of Signicance: The growth of the U.S. military in the early twentieth century precipitated expansion of the Army presence on Angel Island. After nearly forty years of maintaining a modest Army installation at Camp Reynolds on the west side of the island, development and resources were shifted to a new location on the east. Initially a quarry and outpost of Fort McDowell, this site was used for a variety of administrative purposes relating to the enlistment, assignment, movement, and discharge of troops until the base was decommissioned in 1946. As it still exists, the East Garrison features a remarkable collection of Army architecture from the early twentieth century.... (Continued next photo.)

path that goes around Angel Island. This marker is located at Fort McDowell.

(Statement of Signicance, continued)...A major building campaign of reinforced concrete Mission Revival structures begun in 1910 gave this important recruit depot a cohesive aesthetic that reflected the new importance of planning in Army construction. Additional wood structures dating to both before and after this campaign illustrate the variety of architecture and functions at an Army post.

Library of Congress, circa 1930's

4. The Post Exchange

Library of Congress HABS CAL,21-ANGEL,2H--1

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on October 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. This page has been viewed 317 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of San Jose, California. 3. submitted on October 14, 2013. 4. submitted on October 18, 2013. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.